Chouteau Island, River island in Madison County, Illinois.
Chouteau Island is a river island in Illinois, located between the Mississippi River and the Chain of Rocks Canal, just north of St. Louis. It forms part of a three-island group and features wooded sections alongside open stretches of riverbank.
French settlers founded their first community in what is now Madison County on this island during the 18th century. That early outpost was among the first European settlements along this part of the Mississippi.
Every January, bald eagles gather along this stretch of the Mississippi, and local events give visitors a chance to watch them from the riverbank. The river here stays free of barge traffic, so the water is quieter than most sections downstream.
The island can be reached from Illinois via the Canal Bridge or from Missouri via the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which is open to walkers and cyclists. The most convenient crossing depends on which side of the river you start from.
The section of the Mississippi running alongside the island is the only natural stretch free of barge traffic between St. Paul and New Orleans. That detail draws attention from conservation groups who study river ecosystems.
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